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Montebello Unified

Below Average2024–25 data28 schools · avg 38.8/100

Montebello Unified has 28 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 38.8/100 — 5.0 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Potrero Heights Elementary at 72/100, where 44.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $17,377 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 19.3%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
38.8
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
48.8
23.1 – 71.9
Avg Exceeded %
12.8%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
19.3%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
28
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
Elementary36.71714.0%18.8%
Middle36.8611.1%13.1%
High48.2510.7%28.4%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Montebello Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
36.7
avg score · 17 schools
Middle
36.8
avg score · 6 schools
High
48.2
avg score · 5 schools

District Analysis

Strongest level: Montebello Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 48.2.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -2.6pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 48.8 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 19.3%, 1.2pp near the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.7%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Potrero Heights Elementary leads the district at 72 with 44.9% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Montebello Unified

5 On the Rise2 Culture First1 Growth Engine20 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 6 schools in Montebello Unified are classified as On the Rise (5) or Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
94.8%
White
0.4%
Asian
1.8%
Black
0.2%
Other
2.8%
Free/Reduced Lunch
76%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Montebello Unified spends $17,377 per student in current expenditures — $2,562 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$17,377
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
23,092
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 38.5%
$12,547 → $17,377
Spending Efficiency
2.23
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 62%Support 36%Other 2%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$60,726–$137,243
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
1,005
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (17)

Montebello Unified has 17 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.7 — 7.1 points below the state average of 43.8. 1 of 17 elementary schools score above 70.

Growth averages -2.6pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Potrero Heights Elementary with a Scope Score of 72 and 44.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+GrowthAbsentSusp.
1Potrero Heights Elementary
Montebello Unified Growth Engine
7244.9%69.4%+11.7pp11.9%0.3%
2Montebello Gardens Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
4428.2%51.8%-3.8pp10.0%4.6%
3Washington Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
4117.8%38.8%-4.4pp20.5%1.1%
4La Merced Academy
Montebello Unified Culture First
4113.2%33.0%-21.4pp12.9%0.8%
5Bella Vista Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
4022.2%47.1%-12.3pp25.0%0.3%
6Bell Gardens Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
4012.5%32.8%+2.7pp13.4%1.6%
7Montebello Park Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
3717.0%32.6%-18.8pp16.2%2.1%
8Joseph A. Gascon Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
3612.5%29.8%-0.2pp15.6%0.8%
9Wilcox Elementary
Montebello Unified On the Rise
3610.9%27.9%+16.6pp24.9%0.3%
10Cesar E. Chavez Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
3610.8%31.0%-5.3pp16.2%0.4%
11Garfield Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
3311.3%27.9%+1.7pp17.4%1.0%
12Rosewood Park
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
307.0%23.0%-9.3pp16.0%0.6%
13Fremont Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
309.5%25.5%-3.3pp27.8%0.3%
14Suva Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
294.4%19.5%-2.6pp20.0%1.0%
15Bandini Elementary
Montebello Unified On the Rise
284.8%18.6%+4.7pp24.4%0.2%
16Winter Gardens Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
284.3%16.2%+1.1pp18.9%0.8%
17Greenwood Elementary
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
236.8%20.2%-2.0pp28.6%2.3%

Middle Schools (6)

Montebello Unified has 6 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.8 — 3.7 points below the state average of 40.5.

District-wide growth averages +4.0pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Macy Intermediate with a Scope Score of 50 and 22.8% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+GrowthAbsentSusp.
1Macy Intermediate
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
5022.8%46.1%-1.6pp4.3%1.6%
2Eastmont Intermediate
Montebello Unified On the Rise
3810.2%30.6%+8.8pp11.4%1.4%
3Bell Gardens Intermediate
Montebello Unified On the Rise
3710.2%29.5%+10.0pp11.1%1.5%
4Montebello Intermediate
Montebello Unified Culture First
338.7%25.9%+0.5pp12.8%0.3%
5Suva Intermediate
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
325.8%22.8%+2.7pp17.0%2.6%
6La Merced Intermediate
Montebello Unified On the Rise
318.7%26.8%+3.3pp22.2%5.0%

High Schools (5)

Montebello Unified has 5 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.2 — 0.7 points near the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is Schurr High with a Scope Score of 63 and 19.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+AbsentSusp.
1Schurr High
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
6319.0%44.7%16.2%3.1%
2Bell Gardens High
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
549.8%27.0%20.2%2.5%
3Montebello High
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
5310.8%31.1%16.1%3.7%
4Applied Technology Center
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
4812.7%38.0%25.9%3.4%
5Vail High (Continuation)
Montebello Unified Building Momentum
231.2%5.9%63.6%5.2%

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Montebello Unified

  • Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
  • Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
  • Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
  • Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
  • Parent and community engagement levels
  • Quality of special education and gifted programs
  • How resources are distributed across schools within the district

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Montebello Unified a good school district?
Montebello Unified has 28 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.8/100, which is 5.0 points below the California state average of 43.8. 12.8% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Montebello Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Montebello Unified is Potrero Heights Elementary with a Scope Score of 72/100 and 44.9% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Montebello Unified spend per student?
Montebello Unified spends $17,377 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Montebello Unified?
Teacher salaries in Montebello Unified range from $60,726–$137,243 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.